Indigo Spell (42 page)

“I grieve in my own way but the spikes were not meant for him. His sacrifice was his own.”

“Andion ended his life to save Tess’. Do you not believe I should seek retribution against this witch?” Jaxon’s lips curled into a sneer. “Love has made you soft.”

“And it has made you blind.”

“Stop this!” Tess lunged forward to step in between the two men. “What’s this going to solve? Athena is the one to blame, not either one of you. You both know the rules. And if I understand them right, you can’t harm one another. So pocket your egos and focus the blame where it really belongs.”

Braeden looked down and Tess felt the brush of ice from his gaze. The wizard didn’t approve of her words but he wouldn’t challenge them. She saw the swift upturn of his lips seconds before he backed off.

“Your wife is wise to remind us of our duties to the Assembly. We will solve nothing by turning our anger toward one another.”

“I agree. My anger is not with you.” Jaxon advanced forward, feinted to the left before arching back toward the right, arm extended. A laser-sharp claw descended from his palm and connected with Athena’s throat. Talons dug into her tender skin as he dragged her forward.

“Release her!” Braeden roared. He ran toward his brother, head lowered but Jaxon was too quick. He leaped out of the way, shot into the air with Athena dangling from his hand. “You’re going to kill her.” Rage simmered in Braeden’s voice.

Jaxon lifted one eyebrow. “That was always my intention.”

“Jaxon, please.” Tess reached up for her husband with her soft, insistent voice. “Don’t do this,” she pleaded, praying Jaxon would relinquish his hold on the witch long enough for Braeden to act. Though she cared little for the witch’s safety, she felt the rage emanating from her husband and knew it could destroy him if he allowed it.

“I wish I could grant you this wish but I cannot. I must avenge Andion’s death. That is my duty.” The inflection in Jaxon’s voice saddened her.

She stood tall. “He didn’t ask for vengeance.”

Jaxon met her gaze and held it for a long second. “He does not have to ask for it. It is ours to seek. He was one of us.”

Tess glared up at her husband. “And he died for me. Don’t I get a say in all of this?”

Athena gurgled. “Do you mind my asking why you’re trying to save my life?” Her voice was a raspy whisper.

Tess shot a disgusted look up at her. “I’m not trying to save your life. I’m trying to save his. Ours. I don’t want your blood on my husband’s hands.”

Athena’s face lit up. “For once, we agree on something. Well, I guess that settles it then, Jaxon, old boy. If you kill me, things aren’t going to be happy on the home front. So if you want to keep the little woman happy—”

Jaxon switched hands on her neck and sheathed the talons. “Shut up.”

Braeden’s breath came out in a loud, long growl. “I am not asking you to release her, Jaxon. I am telling you. Release her now.” He singed the ground at his brother’s feet with fire from his fingertips.

Jaxon didn’t even blink from the threat. “Your magic does not impress me, brother. You are limited in what you can do.”

Braeden circled the air, his feet inches from the ground. “As you can see, Tess, Jaxon is not going to listen. His mind hears only the sound of his angry heart. He will kill Athena.”

The witch’s feet kicked the air. “And he’ll take his sweet time about it.”

Jaxon’s eyes were rimmed with hatred. “Give me one good reason why I should not kill her, Braeden. You should want her dead as well as I do. She has killed Andion.”

Braeden contradicted his brother. “No, she did not. Andion chose to sacrifice himself.”

“Andion died because he felt he had no choice. He knew I would have done the same to save Tess.”

Braeden’s hard eyes flicked once toward Tess before spinning back to his brother. “And would you still make that same choice if faced with it again?”

“I am not facing that choice. Tess is safe.”

Braeden took a step backward and caught Tess around the waist, hauling her against his chest. “I would not be too sure of that.” His hand circled her neck, an exact duplication of Jaxon’s hold on Athena.

“Braeden!” Charlemaine’s voice was a horrified whisper while the male wizards roared their disapproval.

“You will release her at once.” Jaxon’s fury snarled the clouds into a bitter twist. Blackness shrouded the magical remnants of the Assembly as the rage boiled over, spilled onto the ground at their feet. Thunder rolled in the distance and flashes of lightning illuminated the circle of wizards.

“Of course I will release her.” Braeden’s voice held no concern for his own safety. “The exact moment you release Athena.”

“You weak, simple-minded fool.” Jaxon’s voice rose above the rumble of the winds. “You would risk your own life for the life of a witch, one who has done nothing but endanger our lives and the lives of those we love.”

“Unfortunately I can do no other. Release her.”

Jaxon kept his hard stare on his brother’s face as his hand slowly opened. “You will pay for this, my brother.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

Chapter Sixteen

Athena fell to the ground, her hands clasping her throat as she gasped for breath. Her face blue from lack of oxygen, she struggled to expand her lungs.

Braeden lifted her in his arms and cradled her against his chest. “You almost killed her.”

Jaxon secured Tess by his side, assuring himself that she was safe. “I would have killed her had you not stood behind the body of my wife. Do not make the mistake of believing this is over. I will come for her. I will come for you both.”

Braeden’s lips twisted with wry humor. “You cannot use your magic against me.”

“You might want to recheck those rules, Braeden. Should a wizard turn against one of his own, it is the duty of the higher wizard to ensure the safety of the Assembly. You have turned against me. As of this day, you are banished from the guild.”

Gasps drowned out Charlemaine’s outcry of fear. Falcon lifted a hand for silence. “No. I will not allow this.”

Jaxon spun, pushing Tess to a safe distance behind him. “You do not get a say in this, Falcon. It is my decision.”

One bushy, white eyebrow arched. “I do not get a say? Very humorous, Jaxon, but I am still the leader of the Assembly. As such, my word is still law.” His voice hardened on the final syllable, leaving no doubt in the minds of those around him he meant business.

Jaxon felt the challenge. It crawled over him, swept him back to a time three hundred years in the past when Falcon had made the same type of challenge. He’d backed down then. He’d been younger, hadn’t trusted his powers enough to know the outcome of a battle with such a phenomenal wizard. Now he knew. His strength was as much a part of him as was Tess. He would protect her at all costs and to do so he had to cast his brother out of the Assembly, even if it meant incurring Falcon’s wrath.

He positioned his body directly in front of Falcon, planted his feet firmly apart, hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Why do you protect my brother knowing what he has done?”

Falcon appeared the picture of calm. His hands dangled at his sides, his posture relaxed but Jaxon knew the leader’s poise was deceptive. “I would protect any wizard who is a member of this Assembly. Braeden is still a member.”

Jaxon took a daring step forward. “I say he is not.”

Charlemaine attempted to intervene. “Jaxon, Braeden was only doing what he thought was right.”

Jaxon didn’t take his eyes off Falcon’s face. “He was wrong. And I say he does not belong here anymore.”

Falcon raised one finger and scratched his nose. “You would challenge me? Here? Now? In front of your family?”

Jaxon knew what his mentor was asking. Was he willing to accept the chances of defeat in front of his family? Pride warred with his thirst for vengeance, retribution against the one man who’d threatened the woman he loved. He raised his head, thrust out his chest as his eyes blazed with fury. “I would, even though my fight is not with you. My brother could have killed Tess. For that, he is not welcome in my home. No one here should welcome him.”

“You are asking us to choose between our sons.” Charlemaine’s voice was thick with tears.

Jaxon’s anger coursed through his veins, leaving little room for reason. “I am asking you to choose between right and wrong.”

Nexon offered his view of the situation, startling the others. The wizard wasn’t known for his outspokenness, often choosing to remain silent in the face of danger or dissension. “There is no right and wrong here. Both of you were faced with impossible choices.”

Jaxon swung his gaze around to rest on the thin wizard’s face. “Braeden was not faced with anything. Athena had not tried to kill his wife.”

Nexon took a step forward, held out one hand. “But you were trying to kill the woman he loves. Prolonging this will only serve to continue the pain both of you must feel. Two brothers should not be on opposite sides.”

Disgust coated Braeden’s voice. “My brother does not have a reasonable bone in his body. Everything is black and white to him, right or wrong. No gray areas, right, brother?”

Jaxon felt a small hand brush against his forearm even as his muscles tensed in the face of his brother’s disdain. He looked down into Tess’ tearful, blue eyes.

“Please don’t do this. We’ve been through enough today. Let’s just go home.” Her voice was soft with the plea.

He covered her hand with his. “And what of my brother? Where should he go? Should we allow him to join us in the citadel like nothing has happened here today?”

“He wouldn’t have harmed me.”

“You do not know that.” The words shot out of him, wrapped in fury.

Tess reached up and placed her palms on his cheeks. “I do know that. I was the one he was holding. His hand was gentle at my throat. He was only trying to save the life of the woman he loves. You would have done no differently had the tables been turned. Listen to me. Please.”

“She speaks the truth, Jaxon. I would never have hurt her,” Braeden ground out.

“And I’m supposed to believe you now simply because you didn’t harm her?”

Falcon inserted his authority once more. “It does not matter what you believe. I am telling you this ends here and now. As long as I am the leader of this Assembly, you will abide by my rules.”

Jaxon didn’t bother to hide his contempt. “I was not aware you had made any rules before now. Is this a new one?”

“The ice is getting thinner under your feet.” The warning in the elderly wizard’s voice came through loud and clear. Falcon would only tolerate so much. He was reaching his limit.

Tess’ hand made an imprint on her husband’s arm. “Don’t make this worse by challenging Falcon.” She lowered her voice, her words meant for his ears only. “You’ve told me yourself his magic is extraordinary.”

Jaxon squeezed her fingers, acknowledging the truth. Falcon’s abilities far outweighed his. To challenge him would be to invite his own downfall. He drew in a deep breath, felt the pull of Tess’ gaze. He smiled down into her upturned face. “You are right, my love. My anger spoke louder than my common sense. Please allow my mother to take you back to the citadel now.”

She shook off Charlemaine’s hand even as the female wizard attempted to steer her away. “I’m not going anywhere without you. Stop trying to get rid of me.”

He made a derogatory comment about stubborn women and focused his attention on his mentor once more. “I will not challenge you, Falcon, but I will not reside in the same house with my brother as long as his heart beats for this woman. As such, I can see only one solution.” He opened his palm, dancing a fireball against his fingertips. “Did you really think I would let her live, Braeden?” His voice was a tempest, a maelstrom of violent emotions. With a hard, sharp toss of his hand, he shot the compact circle of flames directly toward the stunned witch.

Athena shrieked with agony as the conflagration enveloped her. Cursing and virulent shouting dipped into the melee and as the air sparked with a combination of the witch’s draining energy and Braeden’s distress, a vortex swirled, a product of a desperate wizard’s attempt to save the woman he loved. Gathering Athena into his arms, Braeden looked back over his shoulder before stepping through the whirling mass and into the unknown.

A hush fell over the wizards as shared glances segued into shared fears.

“Is she…is she dead?” Tess wondered aloud.

“No,” Jaxon bit out.

“Where did he take her?”

“No one knows the destination of a vortex,” Falcon offered, sliding an arm around her shoulder. “Unfortunately not even the wizard who creates it.”

Tess’ eyes widened. “You mean they could end up somewhere more dangerous than here?”

Jaxon’s jaw clenched. “Braeden knew the ramifications of such a decision.” His eyes sparked. “Foolish wizard.”

Rane came to stand behind his brother. “You did not give him too many choices.”

Jaxon rounded. “Is that a criticism?”

Rane shrugged. “Take it however you would like, brother.” He held his hands out in front of him. “But know this first. I would have done no differently. Braeden forced your hand by using your wife. I am amazed you did not include him in the fireball.”

“Rane!” Charlemaine censured her youngest son. “Talking of such serves no useful purpose.”

“I have to agree with your mother.” Jensen took her arm in his. “Perhaps we should adjourn and regroup once we have all had the opportunity to compose ourselves.”

“What about Andion?” Tess squatted down beside the wizard and pressed her hand against his forehead. She shivered as his skin cooled her palm. “Shouldn’t we bury him?”

Jaxon caught her around the waist and lifted her. “Wizards belong to the elements, Tess. When we die, we return to nature, that which has given us our magic.”

“You’re just going to leave him here?”

He comforted her with a kiss. “No. His body will leave once we are gone.”

She blinked, looked over her shoulder even as they began to walk away. “His body is going to get up?”

“Disintegrate,” Rane replied shortly.

She winced. “Thanks for the vivid picture.”

Rane arched an eyebrow. “I am not a coddler.”

“I noticed.”

Jaxon shielded her from Rane’s brusqueness and led her farther away from the scorched earth where Athena had stood. “Come. We will go home as my father suggested.”

Tess rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know that I want to go back there, Jaxon. Not yet.”

He kissed the crown of her head. “I know. Trust me.”

* * * * *

Tess awoke to the sun streaming in through the polished windows. The welcome warmth bathed her face and she rolled to her back, slinging one arm over her eyes. It was nice to wake with the sun once more. Her thoughts made her arm slip. One eye cracked open. Definitely sunlight. The other eye joined the first to search her surroundings. Now she remembered. Jaxon had brought her back to his home in Nepal, not the citadel.

With a sigh of pure relief, she pulled herself to her feet, captured the robe from the foot of the bed and shrugged it over her shoulders before walking to the window. Pressing her hand against the pane, she reveled in the feel of the heat against her skin though she knew the warmth would be deceiving. Outside, the temperature would hover in the mid-thirties for this time of the year but it didn’t matter. She was below the Milky Way. In a real house. She could walk on real streets and see people who weren’t wizards. She felt alive again.

The bedroom door thumped against the wall, causing her to look over her shoulder. Jaxon carried a wicker tray laden with a silver coffee carafe and scones. “I thought you might like a light snack. You’ve been sleeping for a while.”

She turned to welcome him. “Thank you.” The huskiness of her voice spilled out her gratitude.

He placed the tray on the bedside table and joined her at the window. “You’re welcome.” Taking her in his arms, he held her tightly. “I wasn’t sure if you would want to see me right now.”

She inhaled the scent of his skin, a tangy musk of warm sun and pure male. Her senses began to whirl. “I’m not angry with you. Just the situation. Does anyone know what happened to Athena to make her so bitter?”

His hand dropped low and slid along her hip. “Greed happened. She saw the power wizards had and she wanted it. Coveted it. Unfortunately witches can’t achieve our type of magic without help.”